Robert Indiana kept a series of illustrated journals during the late 1950s and 1960s, in which he discusses the development of his work as well as his daily life on Coenties Slip.

Indiana's journal entry for May 7, 1962, includes a sketch of The Eateria, an oil on canvas painting measuring 60 x 48 inches. A comment added at a later date notes that the work was in the collection of Joseph Hirshhorn. 

He also recounts being alarmed by a call saying that a man was waiting at the door. He was worried it was the building inspector (whom he had not been able to reach earlier in the day), but that it also might just be a salesman looking for J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss).